Eighty

CHAPTER 80

SANTIAGO

"Okay, where is it?" Martha asked as soon as I walked into the room.

"Where is what exactly? I don't understand."

"The file, Santiago. I have been searching for it everywhere. I can't find it. That means you must have taken it." When I still continued to stare at her blankly, she stamped her foot in annoyance. "I am talking about the files that were in an envelope. I handed them over to you for a while, remember? Or are you going to deny knowledge of that too?"

"Oh. I remember the files now. But I dropped it in the car. Didn't you see it there?"

"Where do you think was the first place I checked? Of course, I went searched the car. It isn't there."

"If you are sure that you checked the car, even the pigeon hole properly-"

"-For Pete's sake! Santiago. I checked, okay? I'm not a moron-"

"-Then I suggest that you check somewhere else."

She waved her hand, calling attention to the state of the room. "What do you think I've been doing. Huh? Before I asked you of it, didn't it occur to you that I looked around first?"

I sighed, and really looked around. It certainly looked like Martha had been searching for it. The room was a mess.

Drawers lay open, their contents shoved to one side. Bags were unzipped and even the wardrobe appeared to have been searched.

"Maybe you missed a spot-"

"Seriously?" she said, raising her voice.

"Just calm down. The file will be found. Not everything has to be a damn fight."

"Well, it will damn well be if you don't find it, because I'm pretty sure now that you misplaced it somehow."

I opened my mouth to speak, then thought better of it. It would be more productive to search for the files myself instead of bantering words with Martha. She looked like she was in the mood to slug it out with words, and frankly I wasn't in the mood for all that. I headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" she called after me.

"To find the files, Martha. Isn't that what you want?"

I went straight to the car and began my search. No inch of the vehicle escaped my notice. I even looked under the car seats and the floor mat, and became even more frustrated when it became increasingly obvious that my efforts at finding the file was futile.

When I had looked again for the second time, I sat in the driver's seat and thought for a moment, back to when I had last seen the file that Martha was referring to.

After a moment's reflection, I came to the conclusion that it had been here in this very car. I hadn't moved any items from the car since then. Then I remembered that Glenn had been in the car with me the day before. Was it possible that she had found and taken the file? I shook my head.

"Not likely," I muttered to myself.

Surely, she wasn't the kind of person that would do something like that. But just to be sure, I called her phone. I tried several times, but she didn't pick up. Tapping the steering wheel, I thought. I couldn't go back in there and tell Martha that I still hadn't found the files. She sure looked like she was in the mood to blow things way out of proportion. If there was a shot that Glenn had taken it, I had to find out. At least I had to ask. I drove to her house.

"I'm coming," I heard Glenn call from inside as I rang the doorbell.

A second later, she opened the door. Her lips curved in a warm smile of welcome when she saw me. She threw herself into my arms.

"Glenn," I said softly, burying my face in her hair and kissing it.

"I missed you," she said. "You didn't tell me you were coming."

"I called you several times but you didn't pick up." She gave me a peck on the cheek and stepped back. My eyes widened when I saw that she was was covered in flour.

"Whoa," I exclaimed. "What have you been doing?"

She grinned and looked down at herself rather sheepishly. "It's flour. I always manage to get it all over me no matter how hard I try not to. It's the weekend, so I'm baking a cake, trying out a new cake recipe. Come on in."

She took my hand and I allowed myself to be led into the house, and the kitchen. Her friend, Ann was sitting at the kitchen stool, sipping a drink. She smiled as soon as she saw me and waved.

"Hi, Santiago."

I nodded to her. "Ann." I sniffed.

"Something smells delicious."

"It tastes even better," Glenn said. "I just finished baking and you are in time to taste my masterpiece."

"Alright. Bring it on."

Glenn glided over to the counter where the cake was and cut out slices for each of us.

"So, what do you think?" she asked as soon as I took the first bite.

"It's delicious."

"I agree. It's the best you've ever made." chipped in Ann.

Glenn giggled. "I wouldn't go as far as saying that. You remember-"

I was impatient to find out what I had actually come here for. I cleared my throat loudly. They both looked at me.

"Do you need water?" Glenn asked.

"No. I er- actually wanted to ask you about something. The last time I gave you a ride in my car, there was a file there. It was in a brown envelope. Did you happen to notice something like that?"

Glenn shook her head, and looked at me wide-eyed. "No, I didn't see anything like that. I didn't notice it."

"I am looking for it, you see. It's very important."

"Oh. I hope you find it. I am sure I didn't see it."

Maybe it was my imagination, but somehow Glenn's reply was too glib. I stared suspiciously at her.